How life has changed in Liverpool

Liverpool's population increased by about 26,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 470,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Liverpool increased by 6.1%, from about 439,000 to 466,000.

The addition of just under 27,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Liverpool was home to, on average, 30 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the North West's second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Liverpool

Latest census data also show that the median age of Liverpool remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a lower average age than the North West and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 24,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 10 and 19 years decreased by just under 6,000.

About 19.0% of people in Liverpool are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Liverpool by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

Liverpool saw England's third-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.0%) households in Liverpool had at least one dependent child, compared with 29.6% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 59.2% to 62.6%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of households with children occurred in Burnley (from 33.7% to 29.2%) followed by Isles of Scilly (from 24.2% to 19.8%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Liverpool that rented privately increased from 13.0% to 23.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.8%) households lived in social housing, compared with 32.0% in 2001. The percentage of Liverpool households that owned their home decreased from 52.3% to 46.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Liverpool increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Liverpool, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Liverpool

The percentage of Liverpool residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.8% to 5.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.1%, while the percentage of Liverpool residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.2%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in Liverpool

Liverpool saw the North West's largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just under one in two (49.7%) people aged 16 and over in Liverpool said they were single, compared with 41.7% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 37.7% to 32.4%.

Across the region, Salford saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 35.4% in 2001 to 43.4% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 30.1% to 35.6%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Liverpool residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 13.8% to 8.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64.5% in 2001. The percentage of Liverpool residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.7% to 14.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Liverpool decreased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Liverpool, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

Liverpool saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of students.

In 2011, just over 1 in 18 (5.6%) people aged 16 to 74 in Liverpool said they were in education, compared with 3.4% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 41.2% to 45.3%.

Across the region, only Manchester saw a greater rise in the proportion of students (from 4.4% to 7.1%).

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of students, as the regional average grew from 2.5% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Liverpool increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Liverpool, the North West and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Liverpool residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care remained close to 3.2% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Liverpool remained close to 3.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Liverpool by care, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

Liverpool saw the North West's third-largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Liverpool said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 8.7% to 6.8%.

Across the region, only Manchester (from 2.5% to 4.5%) and Preston (from 2.1% to 4.0%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 1.7% to 3.0%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Liverpool increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Liverpool, the North West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Liverpool

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Liverpool, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 8.4 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 18.9% of respondents in Liverpool said they had no religion, up from 10.5% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 75.7% of respondents in Liverpool said they were Christian, down from 86.5% in 2001. About 3.5% said they were Muslim, up from 1.5% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Liverpool increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Liverpool by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Liverpool, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.2% to 8.4% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39.2%) households had only one person, compared with 36.9% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Liverpool which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 26.3% to 22.6%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Liverpool increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Liverpool, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Liverpool

In 2011, 4.2% of Liverpool residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 2.3% in 2001. The 1.9 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 3.8% to 6.2%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 88.9% of people in Liverpool said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 94.3% in 2001. About 2.6% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 1.2% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.8% to 2.5%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Liverpool increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Liverpool by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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